We have our work cut out for us in the coming years. The threats to critical affordable and supportive housing programs that serve the poorest households and those with disabilities are real and significant. Become involved in planning the 2018 Congressional Reception!

NJCounts 2019

All twenty-one New Jersey Counties will be counting individuals and families who were homeless – both sheltered and un-sheltered - on the night of Wednesday January 23, 2019.This annual census is conducted by networks of organizations, agencies and others that plan community efforts to end homelessness and is coordinated by Monarch Housing on the statewide level.

The goal of the second Annual Homeless Sabbath is to engage as many congregations of all faiths to include readings in their service(s) held on December 15th, 16th and 17th, 2017, at their respective house of worship. Click here to register online to participate.

The bill will greatly expand access to addictions treatment; most likely, where states can apply for a Medicaid waiver from institutions for mental disease (IMD) exclusion and vastly expand access to residential addiction treatment for a period of “not more than 30 days during a 12-month period.”

Long-term affordable housing options will be needed for many of the people served by these expanded opportunities.

Leaders in the addiction treatment field will become more motivated to ensure safe affordable housing options for the people they serve, either post addiction treatment and/or post recovery housing.

Continuums of Care and other housing leaders will need to leverage strong pathways of collaboration with addiction treatment and behavioral health services, at the systems, programs, and person-centered levels.

Expansion of Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) will result in large increases of people receiving treatment.

CSH was an early endorser of H.R. 6 because supportive housing providers will undoubtedly increase their interactions with treatment providers and their desire to be educated regarding MAT, and the best practices associated with it. Supportive housing provides the opportunity for individuals in recovery to access available services that can wrap around them to ensure that they are able to remain permanently in affordable housing.

On October 24, 2018, NBC reported that, “Democrats applauded the law Wednesday as a step in the right direction, though many said the legislation did not go far enough to confront the epidemic. Some, like Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, the ranking Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, warned that Republican threats to undo Medicare and Medicaid would only increase the death rate.

“Despite touting this new law today, President Trump and Congressional Republicans continue to threaten to undermine the health care that Americans rely on for opioid treatment,” Pallone said in a statement. “It is disingenuous at best to promise relief to people struggling with opioid addiction while also attempting to cut funding for Medicaid and eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions, which include opioid use disorder.”

Participate in Homeless Persons Memorial Day Vigil – attend the vigil and help remember our neighbors who died due to lack of housing and supportive services;

Engage – talk to your family, your neighbors, your co-workers and elected officials about homelessness in Union County and how we need to work together to end homelessness. To achieve that goal, we need to change the conversation and focus on the needs of our neighbors; and

Form a homeless ministry - Begin discussions that focus on what more your congregation can do to end homelessness.